A United Church
Sermon Summary
This week, like many of you, I’ve felt a deep heaviness in my heart. Our city is still reeling from the tragic attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival. Just a week ago, our sense of peace was shattered, and while the federal election has since occupied the headlines, the emotional shock remains. And yet—what has moved me is the way people across neighborhoods and backgrounds have responded not with hatred, but with compassion. We've seen strangers gathering for vigils, restaurants serving grieving families, and more than $2 million raised to help the victims. Amid grief, there’s been something beautiful: unity.
As your pastor, I find it fitting that today’s message is all about unity. Because while we long for unity in our city and our country, Jesus calls us to first live out unity in His church. The local church is not only to model it—we’re to embody it. In a fractured world, we are to be one, not simply to “get along,” but to shine as witnesses of Christ’s transforming love. So let’s consider what that looks like, as we look at Philippians 1:27 and Ephesians 4:1-3. Three key truths rise from the passage: we are to be united in spirit, aligned in thought, and committed in mission.
United in Spirit
Paul writes in Philippians 1:27 that we are to “stand fast in one spirit.” This unity is not fabricated by clever strategies or forced harmony—it is born of the Holy Spirit of God within us. The Spirit indwelling each believer binds us together in a supernatural way that no earthly connection could replicate.
If you are a child of God, then the same Spirit that lives in me lives in you. That means we’re family—not by blood, but by grace. And that family bond matters. In a world where disconnection is easy—just one block or mute away—Jesus calls us to a unity that endures through long-suffering, humility, and forbearance.
Ephesians 4:1-3 presses this deeper. Paul says we are to walk worthy of our calling by embracing humility and meekness, by being patient, and by “forbearing one another in love.” In other words, you don’t get to opt out just because someone’s difficult. You don’t get to withhold grace because someone wounded you. If we’ve been forgiven by Jesus, we are empowered—and commanded—to extend that forgiveness to others.
I think of the basketball team I coached this year. Some players thought they were the team. They didn’t pass, didn’t play defense, and thought the game was theirs to win. But when one player disrupts unity, it hurts the whole team. The church is the same way. Unity isn’t just a spiritual ideal—it’s a necessity if we want to function as a healthy body.
So let’s remember: the Spirit of God not only saves us; He unites us. And He compels us to love—not when it’s easy, but when it’s costly. That’s what Christ did for us, and that’s what He calls us to do for one another.
Aligned in Thought
Paul continues: we are to be “with one mind.” Now, this doesn’t mean we think identically about every issue. It means we’re on the same page when it comes to our mission, our vision, and our gospel priorities.
In Star Trek, there’s something called a “Vulcan mind meld”—a shared consciousness between two individuals. Now, I’m not suggesting we line up for that in the foyer! But wouldn’t it be something if the church had that kind of alignment of mind and heart?
Unity of thought isn’t about uniformity—it’s about shared direction. If every member of City Baptist had their own vision, imagine the chaos! But when we rally around a common mission, that’s where spiritual momentum begins. That’s where gospel impact multiplies.
I often tell new members: “You’re joining us; we’re not joining you.” That may sound blunt, but the truth is that a church doesn’t function well when everyone’s pulling in different directions. That’s not unity. That’s entropy. Unity requires shared purpose—one mind striving for one gospel.
That’s why Jesus, in John 17, prayed that we would be one—even as He and the Father are one. Why? “That the world may believe that you sent me.” Our unity is not for comfort—it’s for witness. A church aligned in thought shows the world a compelling picture of Christ’s transforming power.
Committed in Mission
The final phrase in Philippians 1:27 is this: “striving together for the faith of the gospel.” This is our “why.” Why be united in spirit? Why align our thoughts? So that we can strive—agonize, press forward, give our best effort—for the gospel.
This is where we get to the heartbeat of the message. Our unity is not merely horizontal—it is missional. God has a plan for City Baptist Church. We are not just here to gather on Sundays—we are here to labor for souls in Vancouver and beyond.
And it’s going to take work. Gospel advancement doesn’t happen on cruise control. Paul doesn’t say, “coasting together.” He says striving. That means effort. Sweat. Energy. And it’s effort worth giving, because eternal souls are in the balance.
You see, the church is like a dragon boat. If everyone is rowing in sync, following the same beat, the boat moves forward with power. But if people are rowing at their own pace—or not at all—the boat stalls or veers off course. We need every seat filled. Every paddle engaged. And we need to move in the same direction—for the faith of the gospel.
That's why we talk about membership. That’s why we challenge you to serve, to give, to go. Because we are not a cruise ship. We are a battleship. And every soldier matters.
Reflection
As we close, I want to bring you back to John 13:35. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” Unity is not optional. It is essential. And it’s love—real, sacrificial, Spirit-born love—that binds us together.
So here’s the question: Will you be a unifier? Will you step off the sidelines and into the mission? For some of you, unity might mean finally forgiving someone in the church who hurt you. For others, it might mean stepping out of your comfort zone, joining a small group, or serving in a new way. Maybe it means releasing past bitterness, trusting again, and saying, “God, I want to be part of what You’re doing here.”
Whatever it looks like, I invite you to commit. Don’t just watch the boat—row with us. Don’t just sit back—strive with us. Because the gospel is worth it. Christ is worth it.
Let’s be a church that is united in spirit, aligned in thought, and committed in mission—for the glory of God and the sake of the gospel in our city.
